We spent a
fabulous summer together filled with adventures and a big 3-week trip to
Germany. During our trip you experienced a lot of German traditions and you
learned about a very special custom, one that you really wanted to be part of:
the “Schultüte”… a special cone that’s given to a child on the first day of
first grade in Germany, filled with treats, school supplies and toys. I grew up
with this custom, and so did your daddy and I had planned for a long time
already to carry this tradition forward on your first day of first grade. But
even with travelling to Germany this summer, brining one of the ready-made
cones back was just not feasible as it was too large & bulky for our
luggage. But I did have a chance to have a close look at the ones in Germany,
so when we returned I started a little craft project and made you your very own
Schultüte and filled with with German chocolates, toys, pencils and erasers…
and surprised you with it on the morning of the first school day.
In Germany we
have a saying that “mit der 1. Klasse beginnt der Ernst des Lebens” (that
translates to „in first grade begins the seriousness of life“. I have heard
this lots during our trip and I have to admit, I don’t agree with that statement
– first grade should be about discovering learning and having fun with it. Dropping
you off at school this morning – your face was beaming with excitement… and
picking you up at the end of the school day – your face was still beaming with
excitement! I am so excited for you for this year.
You are teaching
me that life never needs to be as serious as old sayings make it sound. My wish
for you is that you remember that there is always time to laugh, to be curious
and to be excited about the little things in life! That there is always time to
be silly, to read one more book, to have one more meaningful conversation. I
love you always and forever.
